The Independence of Lord Shiva: A Non-Dual Perspective

When the question of whether Lord Shiva is an independent god is raised, we find that the inquiry itself may be fundamentally flawed. This is due to the inherent nature of Lord Shiva, who embodies the principle of Advaita or non-duality.

Understanding Non-Duality and the Question of Independence

Advaita, the philosophy of non-duality espoused by ancient Indian spiritual traditions, posits that all existence is a single, unified cosmic consciousness. In this context, any attempt to differentiate between the independent nature of a god, such as Lord Shiva, and other things is rendered meaningless.

From a non-dual perspective, Lord Shiva has realized himself in and as everything. This means that when Shiva is said to be independent, it implies the presence of something other than himself, which is not true in the context of Advaita.

Therefore, the term 'dependent' or 'independent' loses its meaning when applied to Lord Shiva, as he exists in and as everything that is. The third eye of Lord Shiva symbolizes this realization that he is everything.

Lord Shiva's Autonomous Nature and His Vedic Context

While Lord Shiva is seen as an independent and autonomous deity, this autonomy is relative and derived from the supreme sovereignty of Hrishikesha, a name for Lord Vishnu. This conveys that Shiva's actions and powers are overseen by a higher power.

As described in the Rig Veda Book Seven, Lord Shiva's autonomy is bounded by the sovereignty of Lord Vishnu (Hrishikesha). This scripture states:

asya devasya mīhuo vayā vior easya prabhthe havirbhi vide hi rudro rudriyam mahitva yāsia vartir avināv irāvat

This verse translates to: For all gods combined, for Visnu who is the Lord of all gods, for Rudra to derive his strength and magnificence from him, oh Asvins, come to our dwelling to partake of the sacrificial food.

Thus, while Lord Shiva is indeed autonomous, his actions are regulated by the supreme power of the Supreme Narayana.

Independence and Bliss in Kaivalya Philosophy

The pursuit of svatantrya or independence is deeply rooted in spiritual traditions like Kaivalya philosophy. According to this principle, independence is considered the root cause of all bliss. Dependence on others, on the other hand, is seen as the source of misery.

In the context of Kaivalya philosophy, Lord Shiva is often referred to as Paramehvara iva, who is self-dependent and self-evident. As Lord Shiva asserts his independence and self-existence, he is known as Svetantryavada, the doctrine of independence.

For example, the Svacchanda Tantra of Kshemarāja portrays Lord Shiva as follows:

iva is also called Svacchanda Bhairava as the name itself says he is self-autonomous, independent. I praise Svacchanda Bhairava, who is Vivarūpta (taking the universe as his body) Vivātma (soul of the universe) who manifests the whole phenomenon and withdraws it in himself and who is the supreme Prakāa. Whatever is established in the world is so by virtue of Prakāa, the psychic light of consciousness, and that Prakāa, the source of all proofs is ever evident by virtue of itself.

Conclusion and Spiritual Implications

From this analysis, we can conclude that Lord Shiva's non-dual nature negates the notion of his independence or dependence. His autonomy is a manifestation of a higher power and he is self-dependent, existing as the embodiment of cosmic consciousness.

The understanding of Lord Shiva's independence is crucial for one's spiritual journey. Realizing Svacchanda (autonomy) is not about asserting oneself against others but recognizing one's true nature as the cosmic consciousness itself.

Thus, the important lesson is to realize Lord Shiva as one's own nature and be free, which is the essence of liberation in the non-dual tradition.